XN000022-1995-04-07 — Page 13

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Building regulations to be amended

The Government is to amend the Building (Planning) Regulations to improve the standards of means of access to a building for fire fighting and rescue purposes.

The Building (Planning) (Amendment) Regulation 1995 gazetted today (Friday) sought to ensure that fireman's lifts should be so designed and located that, in the event of a fire, firemen could have safe and unobstructed access to the lifts and to the floors served by the lifts.

The amended regulation also seeks to allow the firemen to make better use of all facilities in a firefighting and rescue stairway (FRS) in case of a fire..

"In future, only fireman's lifts are to be installed in a FRS, and the access stairway in a FRS shall serve all floors of a building," a Government spokesman said.

"These are pragmatic changes which will provide better protection against fire and other hazards in a building.

"A revised code of practice on means of access for firefighting and rescue will be issued in parallel with the amended Regulations which are expected to come into effect on May 22." **

Enquiries about the revised regulations and the code may be made either in person at Buildings Department Headquarters, 11th floor, Murray Building, Garden Road, Hong Kong or by telephone at 2848 2222.

End/Friday, April 7, 1995

New floating dock starts to operate

With one of the world's largest floating docks coming into operation in Yam O Wan, Lantau, the ship repair industry in Hong Kong is well set to meet the growing demand for these services in the years ahead, the Director of Marine, Mr Ian Dale, said today (Friday).

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the commencement of operations of the latest floating dock, Mr Dale said: "Hong Kong, as the biggest container handling port in the world and one of the busiest in terms of vessel movement, must be capable of providing a full and efficient repair and maintenance service. The 'United' dock adds significantly to that capability."